Life

Outdoor: Dance fit on Divis Mountain and world dawn chorus day

Dance fit is taking part on Divis and Black Mountain next week
Dance fit is taking part on Divis and Black Mountain next week Dance fit is taking part on Divis and Black Mountain next week

THE Belfast Hills Partnership is running a series of taster sessions covering a range of activities to get outdoors and active during May. Events include Tai Chi, Nordic walking, trail running and park run.

One of the most outlandish things to do high up in the hills overlooking Belfast is dance fit and an event is taking place from 7pm to 8pm on Tuesday May 2 on Divis and Black Mountain. The workout is led by freelance dancer Helen Hall who has created dancing with a Brazilian flavour. She blends movements from styles such as samba reggae, maracatu and samba no pe with her own style of dance and choreography. The activity is adapted to suit all fitness levels.

Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for the outdoor workout. Bring water. The event is suitable for people aged 16 and over. Places are limited and by booking only for this free event. Go to belfasthills.org/events/ or call 02890 603 466

DAWN CHORUS

THE dawn chorus is the collective sound of all the birds that sing at dawn. It refers to the sound made by woodland birds that sing during the breeding season between late March and the beginning of July, but it can also be heard in coastal and urban locations and travels east to west with the rising sun, creating a wave of sound across the face of the earth.

Two dawn chorus events are taking place this week. John O’Boyle will lead a walk around Cave Hill to hear and identify birds from 5 to 7.30am on Saturday (May 6). Meet at the top of Innisfayle Park, Belfast. Contact : Cave Hill Conservation Campaign facebook site, email cormachamill47@gmail.com, call 028 9029 1357 or visit www.cavehillconservation.org

Then on Sunday (May 7) a BBC Radio Ulster live broadcast will run from midnight from Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Co Down on international dawn chorus day. It will link up with RTÉ's Derek Mooney, BBC Radio 4 and broadcasters from across Europe including NRK from Norway and VARA of the Netherlands. Further afield takes in India, where All India Radio will broadcast live from a World Heritage site next to the world famous Taj Mahal.